Deadline tomorrow for public servants to file statutory declarations

Tomorrow is the deadline for public servants to file their statutory declarations for 2014 with the Corruption Prevention Commission.

The 2014/2015 financial year ends tomorrow.

Under the law, public sector employees must file statutory declarations of their assets, liabilities and income.

Those declarations must be delivered to the Commission’s office by close of business tomorrow.

Public servants who fail to file their statutory declarations are liable to prosecution and if convicted, could be imprisoned for two years or fined up to $200,000.

Compliance with the requirements has been affecting the work of the Corruption Prevention Commission.

A 2013 report from the anti-corruption agency noted that Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Defence Force, Tax Administration Jamaica, the University of Technology, and the Ministry of Education accounted for the largest number of outstanding declarations.

Anti corruption campaigner Professor Trevor says insufficient sanctions for breaches of the act could be one of the reasons for the high number of non-compliance.

Last year, the Organisation of American States urged that the government's anti-corruption agencies and prosecution arm be more aggressive in tackling corruption-related matters.